Compartment divider



Nov. 26, 1963 B. ZACHARIAS ET AL COMPARTMENT DIVIDER Filed DeG. 27, 19613,112,143 COMPARTIVEENT DWIDER Benjamin Zacharias, S E. 58th St., andGlenn D. Zacharias, 4620 Harriet S., both of Minneapolis, Minn. FiledDec. Z7, 1961, Ser. No. 162,355 3 Claims. (Cl. 31210lll.3)

This invention relates to a compartment divider device for use inadjustably and readily dividing a display counter type receptacle into aplurality of compartments.

An object of this invention is the provision of a novel compartmentdivider device, of simple and inexpensive construction, for use inadjustably and readily dividing a display counter type receptable, suchas a meat display counter structure and the like, into a plurality ofshallow, open topped compartments, thereby permitting products to bemore efficiently displayed in a display counter structure for readyaccess by customers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel and improvedcompartment divider device including a horizontally disposed supportmember having a plurality of divider wall members adjustably supportedin upright relation thereon so that :adjacent wall members deiinetherebetween a compartment of preselected size, the divider devicetherefore being especially adaptable for use in dividing a meat typereceptacle counter structure into a plurality of open top readily`accessible compartments for receiving therein the products to bedisplayed.

A more specific object of this invention is the provision of acompartment divider device for readily dividing a display counterreceptacle into a plural-ity of compartments and wherein the compartmentdivider device is constructed of a rigid material capable of iithstanding and bein-g unaffected by cold temperatures, the divider walldevice including a flat support member positioned within the displaycounter receptacle, and a plurality of divider wall members disposed inupstanding relation upon a support member, with means for adjustably,slidably mounting the wall members upon the support member to permit thespace between adjacent wall members to be readily varied.

These `and other objects and advantages of this inveni tion will morefully appear from the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings wherein like character references refer to Ithesame or similar parts throughout the various views, and in which:

FIG. l is a cross sectional View of a conventional meat display countertype receptacle advantageously .incorporating our novel divider walldevice therein;

FlG. 2 is a top plan view of our novel divider wall device;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view on an enlarged scale of aportion of our novel divider wall device;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale of the dividerwall device taken approximately along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 and looking inthe direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a modified form of the divider wall member;and

FIG. 6 is -a side view of the modified wall member illustrated in FIG.5.

Referring now to the drawing and more specifically to FIG. l, it wil beseen that one embodiment of our novel divider wall device, designated inits entirety by the reference numeral 1o is illustrated in cooperatingrelation with a conventional display counter type receptacle |11.

This display counter type lreceptacle 11 is of the type normallyutilized in self service type markets for containing -meats and otherrefrigerated products. lt will be seen that the display counterreceptacle structure 11 includes a rear wall-12, a front wall 13 and abottom 'wall 14 which dene an open top interior 15 for receiving thereinthe various products displayed to the customers. It is pointed s' i .ai. i@

2 out that the display counter receptacles structure 11 is also providedwith end walls, not shoavn, and may be provided with refrigeration meansfor maintaining the bottom wall surface 14 at a low temperature for thepurpose of preserving the various products.

In the type of display counter receptacle illustrated in FlG. l, theinterior Iof the receptacle counter is normally left undivided exceptperhaps wall elements extending between the front and rear walls and theportions merely divide a relatively long display counter into sections.The various products displayed within the receptacle counter arepackaged and the various packages of a given product are presented in agroup or batch. Thus, a plurality of batches in the groups are displayedfor examination and selection by the customer.

Generally speaking, for example, the various kinds of sandwich meats arearranged in packaged batches as are the various cuts of packaged meat,other meat products, and dairy products such yas cheeses. Quite often,the customer will examine 4several packages of a given product beforemaking `a selection requiring handling of the packages which resultssometirnes in lthe package containing the meat of a given product notbeing returned to its proper batch o-r group. On the other occasions aheap or stack of a given product will collapse causing the variouspackages to fall and mingle with the packaged products of another stack.

`Referring again to FIGS. l and 4, it will be seen that our novelcompartment divider device 1li includes a substantially dat, elongatedsupport member 16 which is of substantially rectangular configuration.It should be pointed out that our divider wall device is preferablyconstructed of a polystyrene plastic material since this material willwithstand low temperatures which are present in the meat displaycounters and also because polystyrene plastic is substantially white in-the cured fini-shed state. Therefore, even if the surface of the devicebecomes nicked or otherwise marred, a white surface will always bepresented. It is also pointed out that `any suitable metallic materialsuch as steel or the like may be used.

It will be seen that the support member 16 has a pair of elongate slots17 formed therein and these slots eX- tend longitudinally of the supportmembers. One of the longitudinal edges bounding each slot 1.7 isserrated as at 17a, the function of which will be fully explainedhereinbelow. It will also be noted that slots 17 are disposed insubstantially parallel relationship and each terminates adjacent butshort of the ends of the support member 16. The support member 16 in useis positioned upon the bottom 14 and each support member 16 which is ofpredetermined width, is of a length to substantially traverse the widthof counter receptacles between the front 'and rear wall. The distancebetween the front and rear walls of a conventional display counter ofreceptacles is substantially thirty inches and we prefer to constructthe supporting member 16 to have a length of approximately twenty-seveninches. It will be noted that each of the slots 17 terminates at itsrespective ends and is in communicating relation with a large opening18.

A plurality of divider Wall members 19 are detachably and slidablymounted on the support member 16 for longitudinal sliding movementrelative thereto. It will be noted that when the support member 16 ispositioned along the bot-tom 14 of the counter receptacle, the dividerwall members 19 will be disposed in substantially upright relationshipas best seen in FIG. l. It is also pointed out that these divider wallmembers 19 are similarly constructed of polystyrene plastic and may beformed by a molding operation. The wall members 1d may also beconstructed of a suitable metal.

It will be noted that the lower terminal portion of the member 19includes a product engaging portion Zt) o integrally formed therewithand extending in lsubstantially right angular relationship therefrom.Th1s product engaging portion 2G is disposed upon the support member 16in slidable engaging relation therewith, as best seen in FIG. 1, and isadapted to be engaged by the product disposed thereupon. This means forsltdably retaining each of the wall members 19 upon this support member16 includes a pair of substantially elongate guide or slide elements 21integrally formed with the underside of the product engaging portion 2t)and depending therefrom so that each guide element extends through oneof the slots 17. Each of these guide elements Z1 is of a width slightlyless than the width of the slots 17 and each of the guide elements isalso of a length to prevent twisting of these elements so that thedivider wall elements may be readily and effectively moved in slidingfashion along a support 16.

Means are also provided for retaining the divider wall members 19 on thesupport member and this means includes a pair of substantially roundretaining members or lugs 22 each being integrally formed with one ofthe guide or slide elements 21. Referring now to FIG. 3 it will be notedthat the retaining lugs 22 which are of a size substantially larger thanthe width of the slots 17 underlie and engage tl e under surface of thesupport member 16. It will also be noted that the guide elements 21 andtheir associated retaining lugs, as best seen in FIG. 3, are locatedmidway between the longitudinal dimension of the product engagingportion 20 of each of the divider wall members 19. It is also pointedout that each of the retaining members or lugs 22 while being of a sizesubstantially larger than the slots 17 are of a size slightly smallerthan the openings 18 thus permitting each of the divider wall members 19to be readily removed from the support member 16'.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 it will be seen that a differentembodiment of the divider wall member is there shown. This embodiment ofthe wall member 19 does not have a product engaging portion 2t) and itwill be noted that the guide or slide elements 21a are integrally formedor affixed to the lower edge portion of the divider wall member 19a todepend therefrom through the slots 17 of the support member 16. Eachguide element 21a has aiiixed thereto a retaining lug 22a as in theembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4.

In use, a plurality of the compartment divider devices will preferablybe placed in side-by-side relation. Each of the department dividerdevices will include one or more of the divider wall members 19. Withthis arrangement, the divider wall members are moved lengthwise alongthe support members 16 until the desired spacing between adjacentdivider wall members is obtained. The spacing between adjacent dividerwall members 19 will define therebetween a compartment for receivingtherein a plurality of packages of a given product as best illustratedin FIG. l. Preferably the upper front terminal portion of the dividerwall members 19 will be left exposed so that the kind, brand and priceof the product displayed within the compartment formed by two adjacentdivider wall members may be applied to the surface thereof. This enablesa customer to be readily apprised of the kind of produce and the pricethereof without examination of the labels on the package. The serratededge 17a cooperates with the guide elements 21 to retain the dividerwall members 19 in an adjusted position even though the bottom wall 14may be slightly inclined as illustrated in FIG. l. Further, productsdisposed on the product-engaging portion will tend to tilt the dividerwall members slightly in a direction towards the product engaging member2t), this relationship tending to prevent accidental sliding of thedivider wall member 19 longitudinally of the support member 16. It willbe noted that the product or packages engaging the upright surface ofthe divider wall member 19 oppositely of the product engaging portion253 also tends to cause the divider Wall member 19 to tilt slightly thusresulting in a slight binding action of the retaining lugs 22 againstthe bottom of the support member 16. It will, therefore, be seen thatthe lugs tend to retain the divider wall member 19 in its presentposition.

It is pointed out that the width of the support member 16 and thedivider wall members 19 may be selectively varied while the compartmentdetned by adjacent divider wall members 19, or between a divider wallmember 19 and the front or rear walls of the receptacle counter may beselectively varied very nicely and to neatly accommodate the batch orgroup of packages to be placed therein. With this arrangement, it willbe seen that not only are the products which are displayed more orderlypresented but that the products may be readily positioned, and removedfrom the display counter more effectively than was heretofore possible.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that We have provided a novel andimproved compartment divider device which permits a conventional displaycounter type receptacle to be readily divided into a plurality ofcompartments of preselected size for accommodating batches or groups ofpackages.

It will also be seen from the preceding paragraphs that we have provideda novel compartment divider device which is not only of simple andinexpensive construction, but which functions in a more eicient mannerthan any heretofore comparable devices.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details, arrangements and proportions of the various partswithout departing from the general scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

l. Compartment divider apparatus for use in readily and adjustablydividing a display counter type receptacle, such as meat displaycounters and the like, into a plurality of compartments,

said compartment divider apparatus comprising an elongate substantiallyat support membed adapted to be positioned upon the bottom of a displaycounter type receptacle and being of a length to substantially traversethe same,

said support member having a plurality of elongate slots formed thereinand extending longitudinally thereof, said slots being disposed insubstantially parallel relation,

a divider wall member adjustably mounted in substantially uprighttransverse relation on said support member for sliding movement relativethereto,

said divider wall member including a substantially horizontallydisposed, product-supporting element aixed to the lower portion thereofand extending laterally therefrom upon the upper surface of said supportmember and presenting a smooth uninterrupted upper surface,

a plurality of guide elements rigidly connected to said productsupporting element and depending therefrom, each of said guide elementsprojecting through one of said slots and cooperating therewith forguiding said wall member in upright transverse relation along thesupport member,

and a plurality of retaining elements each being aflixed to one of saidguide elements and being positioned against the underside of saidsupport member and cooperating with the latter to retain said dividerwall member in upright transverse relation in an adjusted position onsaid support member.

2. Structure as defined in claim l wherein at least one of the edgesbounding one of the slots in said support member is serrated.

3. Apparatus as described in claim l and a plurality of enlargedopenings formed in said support member adjacent one end thereof and eachopening communicating with one of said slots, said enlarged openingbeing of a size larger than said retaining elements to permit readyremoval of said divider Wall member from said support member.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 DarbyOct. 16, 1928 Vanderveld Feb. 18, 1930 Vsel Sept. 1, 1931 Mapson May 30,1933 Wesbrook Dec. 9, 1941 Lowensten July 27, 1954 Ingelson May 29, 1956FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain June 7, 1940

1. COMPARTMENT DIVIDER APPARATUS FOR USE IN READILY AND ADJUSTABLYDIVIDING A DISPLAY COUNTER TYPE RECEPTACLE, SUCH AS MEAT DISPLAYCOUNTERS AND THE LIKE, INTO A PLURALITY OF COMPARTMENTS, SAIDCOMPARTMENT DIVIDER APPARATUS COMPRISING AN ELONGATE SUBSTANTIALLY FLATSUPPORT MEMBED ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED UPON THE BOTTOM OF A DISPLAYCOUNTER TYPE RECEPTACLE AND BEING OF A LENGTH TO SUBSTANTIALLY TRAVERSETHE SAME, SAID SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING A PLURALITY OF ELONGATE SLOTSFORMED THEREIN AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF, SAID SLOTS BEINGDISPOSED IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATION, A DIVIDER WALL MEMBERADJUSTABLY MOUNTED IN SUBSTANTIALLY UPRIGHT TRANSVERSE RELATION ON SAIDSUPPORT MEMBER FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO, SAID DIVIDER WALLMEMBER INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED,PRODUCT-SUPPORTING ELEMENT AFFIXED TO THE LOWER PORTION THEREOF ANDEXTENDING LATERALLY THEREFROM UPON THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID SUPPORTMEMBER AND PRESENTING A SMOOTH UNINTERRUPTED UPPER SURFACE, A PLURALITYOF GUIDE ELEMENTS RIGIDLY CONNECTED TO SAID PRODUCT SUPPORTING ELEMENTAND DEPENDING THEREFROM, EACH OF SAID GUIDE ELEMENTS PROJECTING THROUGHONE OF SAID SLOTS AND COOPERATING THEREWITH FOR GUIDING SAID WALL MEMBERIN UPRIGHT TRANSVERSE RELATION ALONG THE SUPPORT MEMBER, AND A PLURALITYOF RETAINING ELEMENTS EACH BEING AFFIXED TO ONE OF SAID GUIDE ELEMENTSAND BEING POSITIONED AGAINST THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER ANDCOOPERATING WITH THE LATTER TO RETAIN SAID DIVIDER WALL MEMBER INUPRIGHT TRANSVERSE RELATION IN AN ADJUSTED POSITION ON SAID SUPPORTMEMBER.